Brussels, 25/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 April, the European Parliament (EP) committee on civil liberties validated one of the last texts of the “asylum package” by agreeing on the harmonisation of procedures between member states and allowing asylum seekers to benefit from the same chances of obtaining international protection, whatever country they find themselves in. A committee press release explains that, due to disparities between the asylum procedures of the various EU member states, the likelihood of an asylum seeker gaining international protection depends partly on the member state in which that person has submitted the application. In order to reduce those differences, the Parliament and the Council agreed to revise the 2005 directive on asylum procedures with a view to harmonising procedural guarantees for asylum seekers. An agreement was adopted on Wednesday between Parliament and Council by 44 votes to 3, with 8 abstentions. The text will come up again in the June plenary with the other “asylum package” proposals. The common European asylum regime may then take effect.
The text approved on Wednesday, as drafted by French Socialist Sylvie Guillaume (S&D), introduces a new compulsory identification mechanism so that the specific needs of asylum seekers (for example, relating to their age, gender, sexual leaning, disability or illness) are acknowledged and so that those persons receive adequate support, the committee said. For unaccompanied minors, national authorities are to designate a representative. Also, in the case of doubt as to the age of a young applicant for asylum, the member states should consider that he/she is a minor. The new rules would also ensure that asylum seekers can obtain aid and legal information free of charge upon request. The training of all the personnel in contact with asylum seekers, such as the police services and immigration authorities, should moreover be strengthened. Interviewers should thus be able to detect any signs that asylum seekers have undergone acts of torture, the press release points out.
The new directive stipulates the shortest times for processing applications, including the standard time of six months for taking a decision on a request for asylum. In three specific cases, this may take nine months: - when there are a large number of third country or stateless persons who simultaneously call for international protection; - when there are complex questions of fact or law involved; - or when the delay is caused by the fact that the applicant has not complied with procedural obligations.
On her blog, Cecilia Malmström, Home Affairs Commissioner, welcomed the vote which will allow a European asylum regime to finally see light of day. The new system must be fairer and more protective for the most vulnerable asylum seekers, she writes. Under discussion since 1999, finalisation of the common asylum regime has been one of her main, if not the main, objective as commissioner, Malmström said. The “asylum package” is made up of five texts, two of which are on the Dublin regulation, the criteria for qualifying for refugee status, the Eurodac database and the conditions of hosting asylum seekers. (SP/transl.jl)